This year’s outbreak of cholera in South Sudan has claimed 38 lives so far.
Cholera is a bacterial disease endemic to South Sudan caused by pathogens in untreated water. Poor or virtually inexistent hygiene practices, lack of access to basic sanitation facilities, deteriorating economical situation leaving urban poor without basic supplies of safe drinking water resulted in current outbreak of the disease which causes diarrhea, vomiting, severe dehydration and – in extreme cases – death. In these circumstances Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH) is providing comprehensive services to alleviate suffering of affected, vulnerable communities in Juba Na Bari located upon the River Nile and in Bor where PAH took leadership over Cholera Task Force. The emphasis is put on prevention measures.
In Juba Na Bari we conduct hygiene promotion training of trainers for local leaders as well as identified efficacious individuals and school hygiene clubs. The message reached 32 individuals who are going to spread it to thousands. PAH WASH Technicians team is conducting repairs and chlorination of existing boreholes (preceded by water quality tests). Due to its hydrological characteristics, after heavy rains up to 60% of water sources in Juba became contaminated. The team managed to install rain water system and repair hand washing facilities in schools. Ongoing training for hand pump mechanics will inevitably equip the population with skills necessary for sustaining the results.
Na Bari is semi-urban setting what makes our intervention different from emergency responses in remote locations of other states.
Intervention in Bor town focuses on capacity building as well – in Malou sensitization training reached 56 women. Additional 30 hygiene promoters were mobilized in Lake Lau. Extensive hygiene promotion combined with water quality analysis, rehabilitation of water points and hand washing facility should soon result in improvement.
All activities are conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure of the Republic of South Sudan, WASH Cluster and state coordination body.
The activities are supported by European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection and Common Humanitarian Fund.
